Here is another great treat made not only with pumpkin but also apple cider for the perfect autumn food pairing. This easy pumpkin bread taste perfect just as it is moist and spicy or kick the taste up another notch by slathering some cider cream cheese frosting on top. It’s wickedly good!

From by the bay wishing you cider and pumpkin food memories!

Maryann

Pumpkin Cider Bread 

Makes 1 Loaf or 4 mini loaves

Adapted from Gourmet October 1991

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple cider
• 1 cup canned pumpkin purée
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup raisins

Directions

In a saucepan boil the cider until it is reduced to about 1/4 cup, add raisins and let it cool. In a bowl whisk together well the pumpkin purée, the eggs, the oil, the brown sugar, and the reduced cider. Into the bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves and stir the batter until it is just combined. Transfer the batter to a well-buttered 8 1/2-by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan and bake the bread in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan.

Cider Cream Cheese Icing

For the icing
1/2 cup apple cider
6 ounces cream cheese, cut into bits and softened
1/2 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

Make the icing:
In a saucepan boil the cider until it is reduced to about 1/4 cup and let it cool. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together the cream cheese, the confectioners’ sugar, the reduced cider, and a pinch of salt until the icing is smooth.